March 28, 2001
Sun Microsystems and Cray announce OEM agreement
Back in the days when Sun was still an independent entity, CBR reported on a deal it struck with Cray.
The agreement gave Cray the ability to rebrand, directly market and sell Sun’s new Sun Fire servers as data management (input/output) nodes within Cray’s next-generation Cray MTA-2 and Cray SV2 supercomputer products. The agreement allowed Cray to exploit the best data management technology on the market and reduce development costs for two next-generation products, said Cray Inc. Chairman and CEO Jim Rottsolk.
SAGE acquires TAS Software
Sage announces the acquisition of the entire share capital of TAS Software Limited for £9.7m. TAS specialises in accounting and payroll software which complements Sage’s existing range of software for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Sprint PCS introduces first full colour cell phone in US
Those were the days. "Sprint PCS Group has unveiled plans to introduce the first full-colour screen mobile phone in the US. The model was designed Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. The compact mobile phone folds in half like a clamshell and has a two-inch full colour display. The phones which will be available to Sprint PCS customers next week," we said at the time. Quite exciting, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Sony to upgrade focus on mobile strategies
Continuing on the mobile theme, we reported on what Sony was trying to do in that space. "Sony Electronics has announced that it will increase the company’s ambitions within the mobile phone handset operations. Sony stated that it would establish the operations into a full division and put more focus on mobile computing products," we said.
UK TV: going digital fast, but not fast enough
"The UK is Europe’s fastest-growing market for digital TV: by 2005 two-thirds of Brits will have digital access. But many of the rest will be highly unwilling to make the switch, especially if they have to pay. The government and broadcasters will have to work together to achieve the planned analogue switch-off by 2010, possibly even providing free set-top-boxes." That switch-off by 2010 never quite materialised but what were we saying about it back in 2001? Read the full story to find out.
Vodafone/Verizon: 3G friction
"Vodafone wants the US mobile network to use the wCDMA standard for 3G. Verizon implied last week that it would use the incompatible CDMA2000 standard – although this week it said it would keep its options open. If the fight restarts, one possible solution for Verizon would be to sell out to Vodafone. The synergies between landlines and mobiles aren’t huge. Rumours are circulating of a rift between Verizon Wireless’ joint owners," our report begins.
